The 2026 Abu Dhabi T10 Player Draft saw a host of international stars find new homes ahead of the upcoming season, with Naseem Shah (Royal Desert Champions), Noor Ahmad (Emirates Eagles), Muhammad Amir (UAE Bulls), Alzarri Joseph (Arabian Aces), Dasun Shanaka (Yas Lions), Shadab Khan (UAE Bulls), Kusal Perera (Emirates Eagles) and Chris Jordan (Royal Desert Champions) among the headline names selected. The Draft also saw several of the UAE’s leading players join the six franchises, underlining the growing depth of local talent in the Abu Dhabi T10. Alishan Sharafu (Arabian Aces), Aayan Afzal Khan (Royal Desert Champions), Muhammad Waseem (Royal Desert Champions), Haider Razzaq (Emirates Eagles), Muhammad Rohid (UAE Bulls), Ansh Tandon (Yas Lions) and Luqman Faisal (Emirates Eagles) were among the prominent UAE selections.
The 2026 Abu Dhabi T10 Player Draft saw a host of international stars find new homes ahead of the upcoming season
Netherlands’ Aryan Dutt also joins the squad as their Associate Member selection. * Players signed before the Abu Dhabi T10 Player Draft. The Arabian Aces will have plenty of experience and firepower in their ranks, with Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Sam Billings and Imran Tahir among their notable draft selections. Alzarri Joseph, Richard Gleeson , Dwayne Pretorius and Dunith Wellalage add further bowling and all-round options to a squad that already featured Moeen Ali , Andre Russell and Liam Livingstone as pre-draft signings. The Aces also secured further local and emerging talent to complement their international core. The Royal Desert Champions assembled a formidable side led by the likes of Naseem Shah, Maheesh Theekshana , Dushmantha Chameera and Chris Jordan. Muhammad Waseem, Brandon King and Jayanth Liyanage add batting depth, while Gulbadin Naib and Keemo Paul provide all-round ability. The side already had Nicholas Pooran , Phil Salt and Sherfane Rutherford on board as pre-draft signings. The UAE Bulls have an abundance of power-hitting options through Andre Fletcher , Aneurin Donald , Khwaja Nafay, Max Bryan and Azam Khan , with Shadab Khan and Khushdil Shah offering all-round depth. Scotland’s Bradley Currie also joins the squad. The Yas Lions have plenty of experience with James Vince , Dasun Shanaka, Tom Moores and Akeal Hosein among their notable selections.
Muhammad Amir and Nuwan Thushara add to the bowling attack, while the franchise had already secured Kieron Pollard , Sunil Narine and Romario Shepherd before the Draft. Eshan Malinga and Obed McCoy build their bowling strength, while the Lions had already secured Jason Holder , David Willey and Andries Gous before the Draft.
